Greenwich, Darien girls soccer battle to scoreless tie

Scott Ericson

Published 11:18 pm, Friday, October 19, 2012

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Darien goalie Phoebe Taylor blocks a shot as Kim Ghahramani # 11 of Greenwich misses while attempting a header on the rebound during the closing minute of play in the first half during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Darien goalie Phoebe Taylor blocks a shot as Kim Ghahramani # 11 of Greenwich misses while attempting a header on the rebound during the closing minute of play in the first half during the girls high school ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Parker Hamill # 11 of Darien gets upended on a tackle by Sarah Mischianti # 5 of Greenwich during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Parker Hamill # 11 of Darien gets upended on a tackle by Sarah Mischianti # 5 of Greenwich during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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At bottom, Sarah Mischianti # 5 of Greenwich tackles Kelly Karczewski # 20 of Darien during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

At bottom, Sarah Mischianti # 5 of Greenwich tackles Kelly Karczewski # 20 of Darien during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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At right, Erin Karczewski # 8 of Darien heads the ball while being defended by Alyssa Bernstein # 23 of Greenwich during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

At right, Erin Karczewski # 8 of Darien heads the ball while being defended by Alyssa Bernstein # 23 of Greenwich during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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At left, Stephanie Gittings # 13 was one of nine Greenwich seniors honored prior to the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

At left, Stephanie Gittings # 13 was one of nine Greenwich seniors honored prior to the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Greenwich soccer player Kimberly Huyhua, left, is given a rose by Greenwich soccer coach Danny Simpson prior to the start of the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. Huyhua was one of nine Greenwich seniors honored as part of senior night. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Greenwich soccer player Kimberly Huyhua, left, is given a rose by Greenwich soccer coach Danny Simpson prior to the start of the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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The senior Greenwich girls high school soccer players were honored prior to the match against Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. They are from left, Emma Haslun, Sarah Mischianti, Emma Christie, Emily Johnson, Kimberly Huyhua, Margaret Parker, Molli Haimerl, Stephanie Gittings and Naomi Leeds. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

The senior Greenwich girls high school soccer players were honored prior to the match against Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. They are from left, Emma Haslun, Sarah Mischianti, ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Darien players Kristy Gilbert # 12 and Karoline Glad # 7 with their teammates during the National Anthem at the start of the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Darien players Kristy Gilbert # 12 and Karoline Glad # 7 with their teammates during the National Anthem at the start of the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Greenwich girls high school soccer coach Danny Simpson speaks with his squad prior to the match against Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie.

Greenwich girls high school soccer coach Danny Simpson speaks with his squad prior to the match against Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie.

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Darien girls high school soccer coach Leigh Parsons during the match between his school and Greenwich High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie.

Darien girls high school soccer coach Leigh Parsons during the match between his school and Greenwich High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie.

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Darien goalie Phoebe Taylor, bottom, blocks the shot of Naomi Leeds, right, # 9 of Greenwich, during the opening minute of play in the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Darien goalie Phoebe Taylor, bottom, blocks the shot of Naomi Leeds, right, # 9 of Greenwich, during the opening minute of play in the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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At left, Morgan Sawitsky # 19 of Darien goes for the ball against Naomi Leeds # 9 of Greenwich during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

At left, Morgan Sawitsky # 19 of Darien goes for the ball against Naomi Leeds # 9 of Greenwich during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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At left, Emily Johnson # 10 of Greenwich goes high to get the pull as Vanessa Budd # 24 of Darien pulls back during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

At left, Emily Johnson # 10 of Greenwich goes high to get the pull as Vanessa Budd # 24 of Darien pulls back during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Emma Christie # 26 of Greenwich heads the ball during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Emma Christie # 26 of Greenwich heads the ball during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Morgan Sawitsky # 19 of Darien prepares to take a shot as Emily Johnson # 10 of Greenwich closes in during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Morgan Sawitsky # 19 of Darien prepares to take a shot as Emily Johnson # 10 of Greenwich closes in during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Greenwich goalie Kylie Ginsberg clears the ball during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. At right is Margaret Parker # 24 of Greenwich. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Greenwich goalie Kylie Ginsberg clears the ball during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. At right is Margaret ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Parker Hamill # 11 of Darien speaks with a referee during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Parker Hamill # 11 of Darien speaks with a referee during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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At left, Naomi Leeds # 9 of Greenwich goes up against Carolyn Paletta # 17 of Darien during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

At left, Naomi Leeds # 9 of Greenwich goes up against Carolyn Paletta # 17 of Darien during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Darien goalie Phoebe Taylor blocks a header attempt by Elizabeth Warner # 15 of Greenwich during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. At left for Darien is Kristy Gilbert # 12. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Darien goalie Phoebe Taylor blocks a header attempt by Elizabeth Warner # 15 of Greenwich during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

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Naomi Leeds # 9 of Greenwich goes for the ball during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a scoreless tie. less

Naomi Leeds # 9 of Greenwich goes for the ball during the girls high school soccer match between Greenwich High School and Darien High School at Greenwich, Friday night, Oct. 19, 2012. The game ended in a ... more

Photo: Bob Luckey

Greenwich, Darien girls soccer battle to scoreless tie

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GREENWICH -- The Greenwich girls soccer team scored six goals against Stamford in a shutout victory on Oct. 4.

Since then, the Cardinals have mustered only four goals over six games, including Friday night when they once again settled for a tie, this time a 0-0 draw with Darien.

It was the fifth tie in the last six games for Greenwich (8-1-6) and its second straight 0-0 affair.

The Cardinals are still in line for a home FCIAC playoff game next week as they entered play tied for second with Warde with 29 points.

Greenwich coach Danny Simpson said this tie was more frustrating than the others as he thought his team would respond after failing to score against Trumbull Wednesday.

"We didn't play well tonight," Simpson said. "We've got to solve our attacking options. We are breaking down in the final third and our buildup play is not there and it shows. In our last seven results we've scored four goals and we have ties and one win out of that lot, so, the girls are trying hard, but we need a little more quality in the final third."

Simpson was so displeased in the first half that he made wholesale substitutions midway through, pulling several upperclassmen in favor of younger players he hoped would provide a boost of energy.

"I think the occasion being senior night they came out with a less-than-focused attitude," Simpson said. "We weren't playing futbol, so we had players on the bench that were underclassmen that I wanted to give the opportunity to and I thought they went out and did a fantastic job, knocking the ball around and creating chances."

One of those underclassmen, freshman Emily Berzolla, nearly got the Cardinals on the board with about nine minutes to play in the first half when she came streaking in with the ball, firing a shot just as Darien keeper Phoebe Taylor was coming off her line to cut off the angle and make the save.

Taylor stood up to any attacks mounted by the Cardinals, making 10 saves.

Darien (5-7-2) is on the outside looking in for a FCIAC playoff spot, but head coach Leigh Parson was pleased with how his team hung with the Cardinals.

"I couldn't be more proud of them," Parsons said. "A lot of games this season have gone against us. Sometimes in soccer you need that bit of luck and we were up for the battle on 50/50 balls, too."

The luck came in to play when Emma Christie of Greenwich sent a shot from just inside the 18 screaming toward the goal only to have it hit the crossbar with 22 minutes left in the game.

Darien had chances to pull the upset with 12:40 to play when Kelly Karcewski got behind the defense and sent a shot for the lower left corner that Greenwich keeper Kylie Ginsberg was able to turn away.

Karcewski had another opportunity with about five minutes to go when she received a cross in the box but sent her header just over the crossbar.

For the Cardinals, Simpson feels they have time to address whatever issues the offense is having before the playoffs begin a week from Saturday.

"We are going to work it out in training," Simpson said. "We've got to make sure we can keep the girls up and remain positive."